Contact:
Lindsey Zabor
(616) 698-3332
lindsey.zabor@zondervan.com
New Faithgirlz!™ series and a book of answers to questions from tween girls in stores this Fall
GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan, July 21, 2008—Zonderkidz™, the children’s division of Zondervan, is publishing three new books by bestselling Faithgirlz!™ author Nancy Rue in October 2008. Rue has sold more than one million Lily books and thousands of other Faithgirlz! books. This fall, her readers will get to meet a brand-new Faithgirlz! character.
Lucy Rooney is a feisty, precocious tomboy from the Southwest who loves soccer and questions everything—even God. A horrible accident killed her mother and blinded her father while they were in Iraq, turning Lucy’s life upside down. Her bossy, career-minded Aunt Karen thinks eleven-year-old Lucy needs a woman’s influence. It will take a strong but gentle housekeeper named Inez —who insists on Bible study along with homework—to show Lucy that there are many ways to become the woman God intends her to be. The new Lucy novels inspire young women ages 8 to 12 to live a life of faith, even under the most difficult circumstances. Lucy Doesn’t Wear Pink (ISBN: 978-0-310-71450-8) and Lucy Out of Bounds (ISBN: 978-0-310-71451-6), the first two Lucy Novels, will be available October 2008 in bookstores for $7.99. Visit www.zondervan.com for details.
Also in stores this October will be a "must have" for fans of Nancy Rue–a chance for her readers to find out all the behind-the-scenes answers to their most sought-after questions in Dear Nancy-Answers to Letters from Girls Like You.
Nancy Rue loves getting letters from her readers, but finding the time to answer them has always been a challenge. Dear Nancy was born from a desire to connect with readers in-depth by really answering their questions, particularly the ones she gets asked over and over, like, "How did you become a writer?" and "What’s your favorite Scripture verse?" Readers want more than just tips on writing, though—they want to know about Sophie and Lily, boys and friends, growing up, and even more about Nancy herself. Dear Nancy is a peek into Nancy’s mailbox with answers on topics that are closest to tween girls’ hearts. Dear Nancy (ISBN: 978-0-310-71496-6) will be available in stores in October 2008 for $9.99. Visit www.zondervan.com for details.
Nancy Rue is also hitting the road this fall to talk directly to tween girls and the adults in their lives with the "Faithgirlz!-Beauty of Believing Tour." The first stop is Oct. 18 at a church in the Detroit area. For more information about the tour, stay tuned to www.faithgirlz.com/tour.
About Nancy Rue
Award-winning author Nancy Rue has written more than 100 books for teens and preteens and is a frequent contributor to magazines such as Focus on the Family, Brio, Breakaway, Clubhouse, Christian Living for Teens, Youth Teacher and Counselor, CareerWorld, and Woman’s World. She has won many national awards from the Evangelical Press Association in both the fiction and non-fiction categories.
Some of her most-loved fiction includes the bestselling Lily Series and bestselling Sophie Series with Zonderkidz™. Rue spends much of her time teaching workshops, conducting seminars and speaking at conferences. Versed in the issues facing today’s young women, Rue serves as the primary voice of the Faithgirlz!™ line from Zonderkidz. She has authored non-fiction titles in the Faithgirlz! series to help girls "get real" on things like overcoming insecurities of puberty, mean girls and boy troubles, while maintaining a meaningful relationship with God. Rue is also the editor of the Faithgirlz! Bible for Zonderkidz.
Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Rue was a public school English and theater teacher for 16 years. Her educational background includes a B.A. in English from Stetson University in Florida, an additional B.A. in theater from the University of Nevada in Reno and an M.A. in education from the College of William and Mary in Virginia.
Rue grew up in Florida reading Nancy Drew mysteries, and everything else she could get her hands on as a kid. She first dreamed of becoming a writer around the age of 10 and after many years of prayer and hard work, she released her first book at age 32.
Rue has previously appeared on the nationally syndicated At Home Live with FamilyNet TV, and many other local and regional television and radio programs. She lives with her husband near Nashville, Tenn. where she serves as a lector and Eucharistic minister at her local Episcopal church and is an active member of the Nashville Women's Breakfast Club. Visit www.faithgirlz.com for more information about Nancy Rue and Faithgirlz!
Praise for Lucy Doesn’t Wear Pink:
“Of the dozens of juvenile fiction novels I’ve read, I can honestly say that Lucy Doesn’t Wear Pink is the best! I do wear pink, but I totally love Lucy. She’s real, she’s honest and she struggles—as we all do—with life, God, friendships . . . things she can’t control and doesn’t understand. Girls will want to talk to Lucy’s dad and hang out with her coach. They’ll hate her Aunt Karen and sympathize with J.J. And like me, they’ll be inspired to give God their knots to untie.”
~Joanna Lutz, children’s magazine editor
Zondervan, a
HarperCollins company, is a world leader in Christian communications and the leading Christian publishing brand. For more than 75 years, Zondervan has delivered transformational Christian experiences through general and academic resources by influential leaders and emerging voices, and been honored with more Christian Book Awards than any other publisher. Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., with offices in San Diego and Miami, Zondervan conducts events and publishes its bestselling
Bibles,
books,
audio,
video,
curriculum,
software, and
digital products through its
Zondervan,
eZondervan,
Zonderkidz,
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Editorial Vida, and
National Pastors Convention brands. Zondervan resources are sold worldwide through retail stores, online, and by
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www.zondervan.com (mobile site:
zvan.mobi).
Zonderkidz™, a division of
Zondervan, inspires young lives through imagination and innovation. As the leader in Christian children's communications, it produces bestselling and award-winning
Bibles,
books,
board books,
graphic novels,
audio,
video, and
digital products that awaken the hearts and touch the souls of kids under 16 and the people who love them, from family members to educators. Zonderkidz is the publisher of the
NIrV (New International Reader's Version) Bible translation, the 3rd-grade reading level edition of the
NIV that is ideal for children and those who speak English as a second language. Visit Zonderkidz on the Internet at
www.zonderkidz.com.